Shimano Aero X5 Pellet Waggler Rod Review
Last Updated on 6 September 2024 by James Bevan
Overall Rating
Score derived from the average of these ratings:
Build Quality - 8.5
Casting Ability - 9.0
Playing Fish - 8.5
Value For Money - 9.0
The Shimano Aero X5 Pellet Waggler Rod seamlessly blends accurate casting capabilities with a powerful yet forgiving action, making it an exceptional tool for commercial fisheries
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Pellet waggler fishing has gained immense popularity as an exciting and effective method for targeting F1s and carp on commercial fisheries. Being a fairly specialised discipline, the tools for the job require certain characteristics.
The Shimano Aero X5 Pellet Waggler Rod is one such tool that is very popular amongst coarse and match anglers.
It is part of a reputable X5 range of coarse fishing rods that Shimano first manufactured in 2020. But why are they so popular and do they live up to their hype?
In this review, I’ll take you through all there is to know on the features of the rod and how it performed over a number of sessions on my local water.
The Rods Build Quality & Features
What Does This Mean?
When rating the build quality of a rod, consideration has been given to the basic components.
These include the materials used in the blank, handle, reel seat and line guides.
We also take into account any additional features that make life on the bank easier for anglers.
The first thing I noticed with the Aero X5 Pellet Waggler rod in my hand was how light it is. This is largely thanks to the Nanosheet carbon which experts claim is 15% lighter and 35% stronger than conventional rod blanks.
The blank certainly does look thinner than some of the more inferior rods on the market which clearly adds to the lightweight feel. Having it my hands for 5 hours straight didn’t feel a chore which to me is a key fundamental to a decent pellet waggler rod.
The handle is a mix of cork with an evo foam foregrip and evo foam flared rear grip. Personally I thought the mix of materials looked a bit odd with a confused mix of traditional and contemporary design.
Having said that, it didn’t hinder the rods performance in any way and it was still comfortable to hold and cast.
The reel seat is modern looking, DPS style finished with a nice gloss black finish with the logo subtly etched into the seat itself.
I didn’t experience any movement with my reel in testing and the reel seat remained rock solid for many hours on the bank.
Finally, another feature on the build of the rod which I really liked was the soft tip. It is probably the softest tip I’ve experienced in a pellet waggler rod which was interesting.
At first I thought it would struggle with larger fish but it absolutely didn’t. In fact it made the whole experience of using the rod quite pleasant.
All in all, the build quality of the Aero X5 is very good scoring an excellent 8.5 out of 10 . Okay its not quite as supreme as the Daiwa Airity but it is far cheaper whilst still sporting some premium features that is up there with the best.
Features & Specs List
- Semi-parabolic action
- High quality HPCÂ XTC60 carbon blank
- Shimano DPSÂ reel holder
- High-quality cork handle with EVAÂ grip
- Super lightweight Seaguide XOGÂ anti-tangle guides
- Available in 10 and 11foot versions
Table To Show The Weight And Length Of The Different Versions
| Version | Weight | Top Casting Weight | Pack Down Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Foot | 130g | 15g | 157cm |
| 11 Foot | 145g | 20g | 172cm |
Casting Performance
What Does This Mean?
How a rod casts is one of the key fundamentals that determine a great rod from a mediocre one.
Easy, frictionless casting that provides accuracy and distance is all rated in this category.
I mentioned before about the soft tip featured on the Aero X5 Pellet Waggler Rod. One of the things I really like about this is its effect on how the rod casts.
Bearing in mind the method that the rod is suited to, requires consistent casting, it appears Shimano have really thought about the design of the tip to encompass this need.
During my review of the rod, it’s casting ability was very good with me being able to hit a feeding spot at around 30 yards out with a 20g pellet waggler accurately.
Also, it’s one of those rods that just feels good to cast. I believe what also helps with this is not just the lightweight carbon, but also the Seaguide anti-tangle rings that seems to limit friction and as such gaining a few extra yards where needed.
Playing Fish
What Does This Mean?
The ability to play fish effectively is an important feature of any fishing rod.
Fishing is a sport, and as part of
this sport, feeling the pulls, lunges and the fight of a fish is an exhilarating feeling that adds to the overall experience and enjoyment of angling.
As such, this is all taken into account when rating fishing rods.
I know I’m harping on about the soft tip on the X5 but I found not only did it make it a nice rod to cast, it also was a pleasure to play fish with.
I have to say that when I first saw the thinness of the blank and felt the sensitive tip, I thought the rod would struggle against larger fish.
I needn’t have worried as actually, despite feeling subtle, the rod was able to produce enough power through the blank to play larger fish. The softer tip seem to produce less hooks pulls as well which was interesting.
I caught Carp up to 8llb in testing and despite fishing in open water, I felt that if I really needed to lean into the fight I could. Despite the thinness of the blank, the butt section was quite powerful and as such I felt confident playing fish whilst at the same time really enjoying it.
Value For Money
What Does This Mean?
How much any fishing rod costs is always going to be a key factor in an angler’s final choice.
A rod can have all the bells and
whistles under the sun but if you have to re-mortgage your house to purchase it then all of a sudden it isn’t the best choice for some.
When rating how much value for money a rod brings, consideration has been given to how the rod performs in all the other categories vs its price point.
If I was to not already know the price of the Shimano X5, I would have thought it would have been more money than it actually is.
This is simply because rods that are thin and light but are still powerful are generally in the top tier pricing brackets in the tackle shops.
When I saw the price, I was pleasantly surprised and as such the rod has scored very well in the value for money category with a score of 9.0 out of 10.
The Pros & Cons Of The Shimano X5 Pellet Waggler Rod
Here is a list of benefits and drawbacks I found with the Aero X5 Pellet Waggler Rod when reviewing it:
Pros
- A beautifully balanced feel to the rod
- Lightweight and comfortable to hold
- Accurate on the cast helped by the Seaguide XOG guides
- Made from high quality HPC XTC60 carbon
- Solid Shimano DPS reel seat
Cons
- I'm not a fan of the branding on the rod but that's personal opinion
- I feel the handle shouldn’t combine cork and evo foam but again, this is personal opinion and dint affect the rods performance
How The Rod Compares To Its Competitors
Here’s how the Daiwa Matchman compared to other pellet waggler rods we have reviewed:
| Name | Overall Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Daiwa Airity X Match Rod | 9 | £389.99 |
| Shimano Aero X5 Pellet Waggler Rod | 8.8 | £144.99 |
| Guru N-Gauge Pellet Waggler Rod | 8.3 | £84.99 |
| Preston Ignition Pellet Waggler Rod | 7.9 | £59.99 |
| Daiwa Matchman Pellet Waggler Rod | 7.6 | £40.00 |
| Nytro Aryzon Pellet Waggler Rod | 7.9 | £69.11 |
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the Shimano Aero X5 Pellet Waggler Rod is a rod that performs exceptionally well on the bank whilst being comfortable and a pleasure to use.
It’s price and value for money is a real selling point as you really feel like this rod is of a premium quality that would put it over the £200 bracket in the tackle shops.
The flexible tip on the rod make it an easy rod to cast and an enjoyable rod to play fish on and as such I feel it is ideally suited to anglers of all abilities from beginners to the sport as well as experienced anglers who are looking for an upgrade.
I hope this review has helped you make an informed decision on this rod.
Thanks for reading
Tight lines!
Hopefully, you have found this review of the Shimano Aero X5 Pellet Waggler Rod useful. If you would like to see more fishing tackle reviews you can do so here.